Fit City Success: CrossFit competition testing athletes statewide

(KYTX) Tyler - Over the last couple of years a number of our Fit City Success stories told us that CrossFit changed their lives. Now they're hoping "The Festivus Games" will show them how their fitness level stacks up against one hundred other CrossFitters.

Everyday is a competition against yourself inCrossFit.

"I started with my husband at home initially," says Sarah Nichols. "When he left for Afghanistan, I came up here and wanted to stay accountable and not lose progress."

Sarah Nichols has come a long way since coming to CrossFit Tyler in February. She's lost almost 65 pounds with challenging WODs. For CrossFitters, that's the workout of the day.

"I feel like it gave me my life back."

Now, this mom is training for her first CrossFit competition. "We are calling this, the Festivus for the Rest of Us. It's a chance for the rest of the CrossFitters to have a feat of strength or throw down to see where we are at.

Amy Chesley, co-owner of CrossFit Tyler helped bring the games to East Texas and is hosting this year. She says contestants, both novice and intermediate, can expect a good test of their strength, with rowing, dead lifting, kettlebells and pull-ups just to name a few of the exercises.

"That is what cross fit is all about. You definitely see the progress when you put in the work, it definitely is a sport of fitness," says Chesley.

That's why 19 year old Nathan Saali joined CrossFit earlier this year. The former high school athlete wanted to take his athleticism to a new level. "There are CrossFit games, but those are the elite of the elite, but for people who are just getting into it, this is a way to show your skills and see how much you have improved," says Nathan Saali.

"When you get into an environment of friendly competition, you excel," says Chesley.

More than winning, the competitors want to see what they're capable of and maybe set some personal records along the way.

The competition starts bright and early this Saturday morning at CrossFit Tyler. They say it's family friendly if you want to check it out. All you need to bring for admission is 3 non-perishable fruit foods for PATH.